Penny Wasem is congratulated by people who were seated next to at the Athena Award dinner Thursday night in Lancaster. Wasem received the 2013 Athena Award.

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Penny Wasem came to Thursday's 2013 Athena Award Banquet at the Lancaster Country Club just to hear her daughter sing the national anthem before the festivities started. The evening ended with Wasem being named the 28th Fairfield County winner.

"I'm totally surprised," she said. "I'm very honored and humbled to be associated with this group of women."